THE GENERAL ELECTION BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 61, 5 December 1919, Page 7

THE GENERAL ELECTION BATTLE

MR. PIMM AND THE ROWDIES

LIVELY MEETING, AND SEVERAL EJECTIONS

NEWS, NOTES,' AND COMMENTS

Not Worth While. "If you want moro strikes copy' Queensland. If you want more discontent amongst the Labour people put in a Labour Government like Quensland. ... Is it worth while?" asked Lieu-tenant-Colonel Mitchell, D.5.0., in addressing the electors of Wellington South last evening. The answer was « unanimous "No," followed by applause. Here It Is, , "Yon won't find a word of this in The Dominion in the morning, it will be left out," .said Mr. Wilford to his Petono audience last night. Mr. Wilford's story was hardly worth retailing, but here it is. Mr. Massey, lie said, had lost hold in Taranaki, and the small farmer was waking up to tho fact that lie was carrying the big landowner on his back. Thkis hoary chestnut has done service at past general elections for oven a longer time than Mr. Wilford has cracked his jokes, before Hutt audiences. Sherlock Holmes. Some of the "crimes" charged against the. Reformers aro worth noting. Mr. 11. 0. Browne last night laboriously indicted tho Reformers for having deleted from the plans the dome which it had beon proposed to put on the new Parliamentary Buildings. And with ruthless hands Mr. Browne laid bare the base motive of the act: it was "to save expenditure."—Actually to conserve the public money! Somethina to Remember on December 17. Tho "Maoriland Worker" on July 29, 1919. published an article suggesting that the Allies—Britain, France, America, and Italy—had been animated merely by motives of financial interest, and by desire for exploitation and annexation. It adaed: "In contradistinction to .the abovo aspirations of the Entente and America, wo havo thoso of Russia, Germany, and Austria. In tho hands of those countries lies the future poaco of the world; this is so because of their geographical position and their large population. ... It is nuite probable that we shall ultimately find tho terms of peace to which the representatives of Russia and tho Central. Powers . . . will put their signatures will bo not only diiferent to those that are being' prepared for,them, but to the immeasurable • advantage of the workers cf the world." That paragraph leaves no doubt as to which sio'e had the sympathy of its author. A Subtle Something. Sir Joseph Ward has certainly- stated that, ho will not vote with revolutionary Labour "to break this country." No ono has suggested that lie has any desire to break or smash the country. What is feared is something much more subtle. The danger, as it appears to moderate voters, is that in the event of neither of the principal parties commanding an alisolute majority in Parliament, Sir Joseph Ward may bo led gradually along a perilous path at tho dictation of the Official Labour Party. It could not be saio'. for instance, that ho had any intention in 1913 of smashing tho country. yet in that year he advocated a "heart-to-heart talk" with men who, by active violence and lawlessness, wero doinsr all they could to bring tho country to disaster. It is possible that many such temptations may ba placed in Sir Joseph Ward's way after the election. Will he resist them ?—Auckland "Herald."

How Things are in Queensland. "On the wages question, it may well lie asked what 'is the use of so increasing wages that business men find it impossible to pay them, with the result that a very largo percentage of unemployment follows, as is tho case in Queensland today, where the unemployed aro nearly three times as numerous as they wore in 191!>, when Ottr. Ryan became the head of the Government?" n<iys the "Manawatu Standard." "Added to its other acts of folly of which tho Ryan-Theodore Government was guilty during the last four years, it has given encouragement to all the lawless elements in the State.

. . . It? chickens are now coining home to roost, in a very literal sens?. Tho other day a deputation of the unemployed took possession of Mr. Fihellv's oflicc (Mr. Fihelly is the Minister for Railways) and declared that as tho room and the furnitnro belonged to t.liem, they intended. to stay there until they got satisfaction. In face of flint declaration, Mr. Fihelly, who, when Assistant-Minister of Justice, spoke of England, at a banquet held in "the Irish Association's rooms, Brisbane, as ' the land of cant, huirfbug, and hypocrisy/' had to placate tho rowdife as best ho could—a very humiliating position for «. Ministei' of tho Crown lo bo placed in."

The Wizard in "Good Form." We regrot to notice (says the Christchurch "Press") that Sir Joseph Ward litis fallen n victim to a habit common in peevish and disgruntled politicians— that of calling newspaper writers names because they venture to criticise him. At his meeting at Maiuleville, the Leader of * the Opposition complained loudly 'of the want of generosity among certain newspapers, apparently because they have not been creditin? the Opposition with all the 1 good legislation of last session, and because ihey have been "saying things" about his'attitude on certain important questions. "The people," he continued, "should remember that when they read a leading article with the editorial 'we,' that they were merely reading the opinion of one man. That man might not have the qualifications to sit on 'a tenth-rate road board, Jet alone give a competent opinion on vital matters. He knew some of lliem intimately, and would not accept their opinion in preference to that of an infant six months old— Hint was. if it. had the gift of speech." We wonder' what our colleagues of the Opposition Press think of,their courteous patron when he is in this charming vein. Insults, not Questions. • "Some of theso questions are nothing more than insults, and I'm not going to answer them." said Lieut,-Colonel G. Mitchell, D.5.0., amidst applause, when answering written questions at his mooting of the Wellington South electors last evening. The Ideal A lady who attended the meeting of the Labour candidate for Mataura asked if the speaker thought that "any woman who had any respect for herself would >bo found sitting in the Houses of Parliament till all hours ntaong o crowd of men." Well—it was a difficult question. Independent Tribute to Mr. Massey. Mr. P. Keegan, an Independent candidate for tihe Eotorua seat: The country was never more in need of a strong leader than at the present tiror. He considered Mr. Massey to bo the mosti capable leader iu the House. He was pledged to Reform, and if tli? speaker woio returned ho would holp Mr. Massey to carry out the reforms this country was domanding. But if ho found that the leader's hands wero W?d by supporters who yore plodged to tho vested interests, ho would have no hesitation in ~ voting against tho Government.

Too Awful! I would a dozen times rather see Mr. Massey and the Reform Party in power (says Mr. Isitt) than I would' see the Independent Labour Party. (Applmo and heading.) Just imagine I Just imagine for one moment, Mr. Holland as Prime Minister! A voice: Good man! Good luck lo i him! ; Mr. Isitt: And Mr. Eraser Minister of Defence,. and Mr. Howard Minister of « Finance—; A voice: They would he better than • you! I Mr. Isitt: But it is too awful—l won't go any further! '• : Unique Qualifications! ' Mr. F. H. Buckley, the Independent j Liberal candidate for Temuka, said in his opening speech that he could claim a block vote from the ladies, because ho was the most handsome, and most lovable man. and had even sons to givo away. , ■ ; Platform Economics. The Labour candidate for Palmerston, Mr. Moses Ayrton, says that "the prices ; of commodities could be regulated the same as a halfpenny stamp or a railway fare." He considers it "an outrage on ! the intelligence of tho electors to say' that the law of supply and demand could not bo regulated by tho men they sent | to Parliament." . ' i How simple! The Government has merely to say that the price of coal ' in Wellington shall be 20s. a ton, and : immediately supplies will become available at that price. Or it can say that ! cotton goods shall be sold at pre-war . prices, and the American planters and j the British manufacturers will adjust their charges to suit. Tlio Labour Ex- 1 tremists must think that tho electors art) very gulliblo indeed—if tho extremists think at nil. • - Why is Sugar Short? A shortage of sugar exists in New Zealand owing chiefly to shipping diffi-y > culties. The Colonial Sugar Company :j and the Government are endeavouring I to_ distribute the available supplies in a i fair way. But last wock tho watersido workers at Oneliunga refused to handle ' a consignment of sugar for New Plymouth, the 'reason assigned being that "some of tho watersido workers had been tinablo to procure any sugar during tho week-end." Hero is an illustration of extreme Labour doctrine in practice. Sir. Holland and his friends talk glibly of "national service" and "the welfare of tho people," but their in practice, are a. gross form of'individualism. Thi "Red" unionist is to look after himself and devil take everybody else—including his brother unionist in other centres. •A Horrible Discovery! Sir Joseph Ward has been telling a Southland audience (says tho Christchurch 'Tress") that "there were many men in the Reform Party as bad as the Bolsheviks—lie did not moan as far as murder was concerned." Ho ought not (add? tho 'Tress"), however, to have left it at that. Surely we aro entitled to know which aro tho men among Mr. Mnssey's supporters who would emulato LcniJi' and Trotsky—in everything, of course, except murder. The moro wo read of Sir Joseph's utterances the less we wonder that ho should keep his best things for the townships of Awarua. His. latest stylo. might not quite suit city audiences. Deporting the Germans. "Aro you in favour of deporting all Germans? If so, will you make the same distinction between the Tich and the poor as was done during the war?" In reply to this question Lieut.-Colonel Mitchell, D.5.0., told the electors of Wellington South last evening that ho was in favour of their deportation and ho vwould not make any distinction between the rich and tho poor. A "Free" Press. Tho Labour extremists aro very fond of talking of the "freedom of tho Press" and of complaining that they were not allowed 'to publish seoitious matter durin? the war. This is what tho United States Foreign Department 6ays about freedom uno'er the Bolsheviks in Russia: The freedom of the Press and.of ' speech, though heralded by the advocates'of Bolshevism as necessary to the intelligent participation of tho people in popular government, has been abrogated in Russia, and by the usual confiscatory method of tho accented formula all of tho mechanical devices ana' necessary for the Diiblication of periodicals and all places of meeting and public assemblage have been seized by tho Bolshevik Government. The Bolsheviks don't' believe in allows ins: nnv other side to bo heard at all. Slapped His Facs. , At the conclusion of his speech to tho electors of Wellington South last eveniiiL' the Independent candidate, Lieuten-:, ant-Colonel G. Mitchell, D.5.0., was besieged with questions, many of which iaclnoed some very insulting references, which the candidate rightly refused to answer. After answering in all about thirty questions, someone in tho audienco called for a vote of thanks and confidence. which was greeted with most enthusiastic applause. Immediately following there was a cry from many whoso 1 o'uestions had not been answered, but tlieso persons were promptly howled down.' However, some of them, includin<r one irresponsible woman, mounted the platfoim, and sought their questions. Tho candidate had answered as many miestiofis as lie could, and the great maioritv of those present agreed that ho had acouitted himself to the satisfaction of all reasonable people. While there were several at tho meeting for the express purpose of interjecting, th6y found themselves outdone, for each attempt at an interjection brought forth howls and hoots, and cries of "Sit down." Women were particularly conspicuous in the matter of attempting to interject. Ono woman so lost her self-respect that sho, I slapped the candidate's secretary on tho' face, and very nearly knocked him off tho platform.' Their Way of Helping. What aro the contributions of the •Labour extremists to the national effort at repatriation and reconstruction? The answer appears to be: "Go-slow tactics, stop-work meetings, and pin-pricking in> dustrial disputes. ' A Budding Buddo. Mr. James Horn, Hie Liberal candidate for the Wakatipu seat, told the electors the other evening that when ho was asked to stand he looked over tho map of tho electorate arid thought twice about it. However, he had been prevailed upon to come into the fie ft, ana ho really thought that if given tho op- „ portunity lio might be able to do some good for tho electors and not, at anjn\te, very much harm. . Evidently another Jlr. Buddo. It Wouldn't Go, "You four men at i-lioi back aro making a lot of noise," said Mr. \\ilford last night when he was being interrupted rather frequently. ' "You can count pretty wll, lom, "£ °a pallor of fact tho number of interrupters was at least 40.